Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
If not now, when?
Eleventh Annual ICCUSA Conference
April 26-28, 2013
Raleigh, North Carolina
Sr. Joanna Okereke, HHCJ
Program Coordinator,
Cultural Diversity in the Church/USCCB
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
MISSION
The Igbo Catholic Community USA
(ICCUSA) is a Catholic, faith-based,
national organization operating with
local chapters. Under diocesan
guidelines, we serve the pastoral needs
and promote the religious and cultural
heritage of our people. We also aim to
coordinate all the local chapters, and
provide a working relationship with the
American Catholic Bishops’ Conference
and with various other ethnic
communities.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Local chapters
Igbo
Catholic
Community
USA
Igbo
Catholic
Young
Adults
Atlanta, GA
Baltimore, MD
Boston, MA
Brooklyn, NY
Chicago, IL
Hayward, CA
Houston, TX
Los Angeles, CA
Newark, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
Raleigh, NC
San Francisco, CA
San Jose, CA,
Sacramento, CA
Washington, DC
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Statistical Survey on Religion in America
• One in five Americans does not have a religion –
they identify as unaffiliated.
• The fastest growing religious group in America is
made up of people with no religion at all.
• The number of these Americans has grown by
25% in the past five years.
• The group of the unaffiliated is growing faster
among young Americans.
• 68% of the religiously unaffiliated say they
believe in God, while 37% describe themselves
as “spiritual” but not “religious”
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Statistical Survey on Religion in America
• The growth among the religiously unaffiliated has been
among people who are 18 to 29 years of old; they identify
as atheist or agnostic(far greater than the number who
identified as Christians (18%) or Catholics (18%).
• 34% of the younger generation (those born between 1990
and 1994) are religiously unaffiliated.
• The Christian Faith is weakened through secularization;
People are no longer invigorated by the faith. There is no
zeal.
There is no question that Reaching Out to the Next
Generation: Igbo Catholic Young Adults is timely. Looking at
the survey you can see there is trouble and something must be
done.
Igbo Catholic CommunityUSA
The future of the Igbo Catholic
communities depends on an
aggressive approach towards
reaching the young adults with
the gospel. The Newspaper
headlines repeatedly show that
we are losing the younger
generation. We must have a
relevant, cutting-edge ministry
with younger adults that will
make inroads into their lives and
impact their environments.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Today, Africans are increasingly becoming a visible
part of the population living in the in the United
States, and are finding meaningful ways to
integrate into the society. However, there are
significant cultural differences among the first and
second generation. For those born in the United
States, there is pressure of identity. This comes
with the understanding of being American, black
American, and how this makes up their ethnic
identities. Different forms of social structure
influence how the youth form their identity.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
How?
• They look for a community that welcomes them and gives them
a sense of belonging.
• They accept a religion which helps them to understand life, with
all its joys and sorrows.
• They want a faith that makes sense in their modern world, and
in doing so, provides direction and meaning.
• They struggle with how to balance the pressure of family
expectations.
Many a time you see the youth react to the expectations of their
parents and elders. Sometimes the young adults perceive religion
as being a set of harsh, abstract, unnecessary rules and using
boring rituals. For Igbos to be effective in ‘passing on the faith’, we
must first respond to these observations and needs.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
The way adults practice their religion is important.
It's important to participate in Sunday Mass and to be
involved in the community.
When you show your children that your religion is an
important part of your life, they follow.
More so, the best way of highlighting
the importance of religion is to see
how it influences our lifestyle choices
and how we handle conflicts and
relationships. It is important to note
that what the youth do is influenced
greatly by the way their parents practice
their faith.
Igbo Catholic Community USA
What To Do
• Knock on doors – visit homes and tell them about
you and what you do.
• Canvass – be creative! How do you relate to
younger generation Igbo Catholics? Do you know
their stories? Do you value their stories? (Knowing
their stories gives them a sense of identity.
• Keep them connected to their origin
• Plan family retreats/gatherings.
• Bring new methods, new enthusiasm, new
expressions of the faith
• Re-ignite the faith of those who have grown cold or
those who have fallen away.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Growing up in Nigeria, it is not uncommon to find young adults taking
care of their younger siblings and elder parents, assisting parents on
the farm, helping in cook and washing dishes, and selling goods in the
market. Also, Nigerians commonly go to morning Mass, benediction,
and choir practice and attending various pious organizations. The
question today is, are you providing the younger generation with these
opportunities? It is important to know that times have certainly
changed and the culture is evolving faster than ever before. Facebook
and Twitter are an example. We should not be afraid of change. There
is a cyber-generation among our youth that is growing. We will
completely lose them if we don’t make a conscience effort to step out
of our comfort zone and reach out to the young adults before they
disappear. Let’s not miss the opportunity to take the Gospel of Jesus
Christ to the young adults and meet them where they are.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
On May 5, Pope Benedict XVI addressed the US bishops on
faith formation of the next generation of Catholics in the United
States. He said: “It is no exaggeration to say that providing
young people with a sound education in the faith represents the
most urgent internal challenge facing the Catholic community in
your country.” Therefore, it becomes important to mention that
the structure of the Igbo Catholic community is a major
determinant of the young adult’s adaptation and integration. In
essence, you encourage the Igbo Catholic community to enable
the Igbo Catholic young adults to adapt and to fulfill their
aspirations. In this regard, our values, norms, culture and
customs must be embraced. For us Igbos, we attribute our
success to education, strong religious values, and a strong
extended family system.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
The future of the Igbo Catholic church depends on an
aggressive approach in reaching the young adults with the
gospel. Newspaper headlines repeatedly show that we are
losing the younger generation. You must have a relevant,
cutting-edge ministry with younger adults that will make
inroads into their lives and impact their environments.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
CAPTURE THEIR ATTENTION: Every young adult wants to know about
God. But in today's world, to connect with God, the message has to be
communicated in a way that will capture both their attention and their
heart. The ministry can't look, feel or sound like the ministry of the past.
The world has changed and the Igbo Catholic church's ministry to our
children will also change. By useing today's technology and creativity to
connect today's children with the gospel. Unfortunately, we plan
programs before examining the needs of the young adults. Your activities
and ministry need to be re-evaluated to see if they are reaching today's
youth and young adults. This means using multimedia; creative teaching
styles; materials and resources that facilitate their hearing and
remembering the gospel's truth. You must define their needs! You must
know what your young adults face! What stimulates their attention?
What draws them to or repels them from the gospel? These facts
establish the foundation for the programs and ministries that are needed.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
You have to lay a good foundation for the young adults to utilize
to impact the world.
Missions: Are you eager to teach how to impact their schools
and neighborhoods? There are resources/programs,
conferences and volunteers services that can assist in teaching.
Worship: Guide them to learn and to be sensitive to the Lord's
presence.
Prayer: Teach them to pray and develop an intimacy with God.
Giving: Show them the joy of giving.
Ministry: Developing their leadership skills, launching young
adult ministries and working alongside adults as teachers and
mentors. Form young adult ministries with the purpose to help
them grow personally & spiritually.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
• Make the young adults part of the congregation, establish their
vision, support their activities, equip, train and empower them.
• Provide them with the right tools and resources.
• Create an environment that draws them.
• Encourage, support, love, value and reinforce their efforts.
• Train them to reach out and embrace their gifts, develop and
grow in faith.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Youth Ministry seeks to help youth share their gifts, develop a positive
self-image, overcome prejudices, develop respect for differences, serve
those in need, foster social change, participate in the sacraments,
develop a personal spirituality and prayer life, apply Catholic faith to
daily life, integrate Catholic values, participate in the Church, and
develop a personal relationship with Jesus. The U.S. Bishops in the
1997 document, "Renewing the Vision" reflects the following goals
†To empower young people to live as disciples of Jesus Christ in the
world today.
†To draw young people to responsible participation in the life, mission,
and work of the Catholic faith community.
†To foster the total personal and spiritual growth of each young person.
In order to achieve these goals, the Igbo Catholic Communities need to
find ways to help young people use their talents in the community.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Some ways to get young adults involved in the community:
1. Give young people responsibility: Allowing young people to run
groups themselves will make them feel valued and respected in
the community.
2. Trust them: The gift of trust will inspire a young person to
commit to a job and follow through with it.
3. Implement a program that transforms participants into leaders.
Our youth and young adults need to be given a goal to aspire to.
4. Reach out to high schools: Getting the word out as to how
young people can be involved is important.
5. Ask individuals to serve in the ministry: Inviting a young person
to engage in parish activities transforms a bystander into a
participant.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Plan a retreat for the youth and young adults, and encourage
parents in their role as spiritual guides. Reinvigorate your
ministries and organizations as small faith communities and
explore ways to redirect their energies toward support for the
faith. Use new technology for communication and invitations.
Organize mission trips. Plan activities such as cleaning a
park, a car wash, or spend time in prayer and worship.
Each chapter should identify leaders and use them as
mentors and positive role models for Igbo youth and young
adults. Create opportunities for the family to pray, work, and
read the bible together.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Consider activities that centers on the following:
1) Advocacy: Allows the voices of young people to be honored and heard in the
Church.
2) Catechesis: Help increase the knowledge of the core content of the Catholic
Faith.
3) Community Life: Build an environment of love, support and appreciation that
model Catholic principles.
4) Evangelization: Shares the good news of the reign of God and invites young
people into a deeper relationship with Christ.
5) Justice and Service: Empowers young people to a life of justice and service by
taking steps which address the causes of human suffering.
6) Leadership Development: Call forth, affirms and empower the diverse gifts,
talents and abilities of young people.
7) Pastoral Care: Nurture growth toward wholeness, provide guidance in decision
making and challenge obstacles to positive development.
8) Prayer and Worship: Celebrate and deepen young people’s relationship with
Jesus Christ through the bestowal of grace, communal prayer and liturgical
experiences.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Recommendations to assist Igbo Catholics reach out to the next
generation of Igbo Catholic Young Adults
• Help Igbo young adults feel a valued part of the Igbo Catholic
Community.
• Provide an environment where young adults can develop
meaningful relationships with their peers and adult leaders.
• Help young people develop a deeper appreciation of the meaning
of Jesus in their lives.
• Find meaningful ways to help young people develop a personal
relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Help Igbo Catholic young adults develop a better understanding of
the Bible and what it means to us today.
• Assist Igbo Catholic young adults in developing an appreciation
for what is unique about the Catholic faith.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Recommendations to assist Igbo Catholics reach out to the next
generation of Igbo Catholic Young Adults
• Teach Igbo Catholic young adults how to make moral decisions
based on Catholic values.
• Provide Igbo Catholic young adults with guidance as they face
personal, spiritual, and vocational decisions.
• Provide appropriate support and guidance for Igbo Catholic young
adults during times of stress and crisis.
• Try to involve Igbo Catholic young adults in reaching out to serve
the needy in the community.
• Provide Igbo Catholic young adults with spiritual growth through
liturgies and prayer experiences.
• Teach them to pray.
• Involve them in leadership.
Reaching Out to the Next Generation:
Igbo Catholic Young Adults
Recommendations to assist Igbo Catholics reach out to the next
generation of Igbo Catholic Young Adults,
• Foster healing and reconciliation in Igbo Catholic young adults lives
and relationships.
• Help them develop a better understanding of their parents and to
learn how to communicate better with them.
• Create opportunities to share experiences, information and the Igbo
heritage with your children.
• Each family/local chapter should develop mechanisms to utilize
Igbo language, skills and experiences.
• Develop programs and activities that will engage the youth and
young adults in discussions and involve them in planning and
implementing community-related projects, events and programs.